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K-State TE Trujillo emerging as key blocker, pass catcher

Kansas State tight end Zach Trujillo, right, is a solid blocker in K-State's running game.

MANHATTAN — Kansas State’s Zach Trujillo knows how unique the tight end position is in football.

The redshirt junior out of Edmond, Okla., said he’s played tight end his “whole life,” so he’s aware of why the position is so different from the rest.

“You get to block for your running back and then you get to go out and catch a pass every once in a while,” Trujillo said. “That’s fun.”

Bouncing between the roles of the in-the-trenches linemen and the more glorified wide receivers comes with a price, however.

Center B.J. Finney said he can “razz” tight ends when they go to work on receiver duties in practice but he admitted it is just another part of the game.

“I can’t remember the nickname we gave them,” said Finney, before giving up after a few seconds of thinking on it, “but they’re just another offensive lineman. We don’t treat them any different. (Whether) they step in to block or they step in to run a route, it doesn’t matter. It’s a brotherhood.

“But it’s a lot of fun when they stay in to block with us.”

Trujillo, who is listed as K-State’s starting tight end along with Andre McDonald, played his high school ball for the Deer Creek Antlers. He caught 39 passes for more than 600 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career.

His transition to college football took time as he caught up with the speed of everything. Trujillo redshirted his first year at K-State and then saw time on special teams in 12 games in 2011, working in a few reps in two tight end sets as well.

“Practice is nothing like the speed of the game,” Trujillo said. “I think that’s really changed a lot for me.”

The game began to slow down for Trujillo even more last season, during which he played in all 13 games behind starter Travis Tannahill. He made notable offensive impacts in two games with a 58-yard catch against Miami and another 14-yard grab against Iowa State.

Trujillo said he didn’t change his approach coming into this fall camp despite knowing Tannahill had graduated, leaving an opening at the position.

“I don’t think it really changed a whole lot because I mean it’s pretty important for me to work hard and try to get better,” Trujillo said. “So going into the year, I knew I had a lot of work to do in camp. All I really cared about was trying to get better everyday.”

Sharing time at tight end with senior Andre McDonald — known for his run blocking abilities at 6-foot-8, 278 pounds — is still a beneficial process for both tight ends, Trujillo said.

“It’s just a day-to-day thing. We’re both trying to get better everyday,” Trujillo said. “That’s what matters, is that we (still) have the competition, and now it makes us both get better everyday.”

After two games this season, Trujillo is halfway to last year’s 72 yards receiving.

Both of his catches — a 9-yard reception against North Dakota State and a 27-yard catch to kick start K-State’s final scoring drive against Louisiana — have been in drives ending in touchdowns.

Finney may enjoy poking fun at the tight ends, but he becomes serious when talking about Trujillo’s progression while at K-State.

“Zach has come a long way and he’s battled some injuries. He’s made sure he’s continued to work hard and get his name in the mix,” Finney said. “And this year, with the opportunity he’s had with Tannahill graduated, he’s made as much as he can out of it and he’s got his name as a starter along with Andre. I’m just happy for him.”